AFTER more than two years at the helm of Bangor Retail Forum, chairman Ayrton Westwood has handed over the post to last year’s city mayor Doug Madge.

At last week’s Retail Forum meeting, Mr Westwood who is the general manager for the Deiniol Shopping Centre informed the members of his decision, which he made because of work considerations.

Mr Westwood has chaired the forum since its inception in 2005 and explained that he also manages a shopping centre in Wigan and will need to spend more time there in the immediate future, to oversee building renovations.

He said: “I’ve decided to hand over the chair to Doug Madge.

“Without a shadow of a doubt he has had an exceptional year, everything Doug Madge has done has been in the best interests of Bangor.

“Bangor is the beating heart of three world heritage sites, we are where it’s at and we’re not saying enough about it.”

Mr Westwood went on to pose a question to the forum about events to draw shoppers into Bangor during the Christmas period.

He added: “Llandudno and Beaumaris have Victorian-themed nights and I can’t see why we can’t organise something similar here, perhaps a medieval night?”

The forum thanked Mr Westwood for his hard work, Cllr Jean Forsyth echoed their sentiments: “Ayrton has done us proud with the Deiniol Centre, we need to thank him.”

Cllr Madge who has several initiatives to work on including September’s Bangor in Bloom Festival and an attempt to brighten up the city’s festive lights accepted the position and said: “The forum has achieved a lot in a short space of time.”

The forum has also extended an invitation to the Bangor mayor for the next year Cllr Derek Hainge and town clerk Gwyn Hughes to join.